Apprenticeship scheme wins top award (From Daily Echo)

Apprenticeship scheme wins top award

6:41pm Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News

An Isle of Wight Council scheme to help young people into work has won a regional award.

The council’s pre-apprenticeship scheme – which works with local training agencies and employers to prepare young people for full apprenticeships – has been recognised by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

At the FSB’s Wessex Regional Awards, 2012, the council pre-apprenticeship scheme won the category for best small business friendly programme or campaign.

The award was presented to council leader David Pugh by IW FSB vice-chairman Norman Arnold before the full council meeting.

Councillor Pugh said: “There are currently 35 young people undergoing full apprenticeships as well as 15 who have progressed through the scheme onto full apprenticeships.

"This is a scheme that not only gives young people the skills that make them attractive to employers, it also gives them real career opportunities.

“Already there are numerous examples of the young people graduating from pre-apprenticeships to full apprenticeships.

" This helps us begin to address the issue of youth unemployment and also helps to sustain a skilled local workforce that will benefit local commerce now and in the future.

Pre-apprenticeships are being offered across the employment having placed young people in fields including construction, motor mechanics, floristry, hospitality, IT and the health and social care sector.

Mr Arnold said: “As an organisation that takes a keen interest in community affairs, the FSB is delighted to work with the council on this scheme that gives young people help up onto the employment ladder.

“Close working with training providers ensures that the young people on the pre-apprenticeship programme are a real asset to their host companies.

"The skills that these young people are learning today will stand them and local commerce in good stead for the future.”

The pre apprenticeship scheme runs in parallel with the local apprenticeship scheme which offers more financial incentive to local businesses who take on young people through the national apprenticeship scheme.

Currently, there are 27 young people going through this locally enhanced scheme which is of particular benefit to companies working in the green economy.